Casey Cizikas scored twice and the New York Islanders beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 6-1 in former captain John Tavares' first time back as a visiting player.
Anthony Beauvillier, Anders Lee and Valtteri Filppula also scored for the Islanders, who had lost three of their last four.
Robin Lehner stopped 34 shots to help New York move two points ahead of Washington atop the Metropolitan Division.
The Islanders' 81 points are one more than they had all of last season.
Islanders fans, vocal on social media about their lingering displeasure with Taveras' departure after he repeatedly said he wanted to stay, booed loudly when Tavares and the Maple Leafs hit the ice for pregame warmups, and when they came back out for the start of each period.
They also serenaded him with choruses of ``We Don't Need You!'' and other derisive chants throughout the game, including around a video tribute midway through the first period.
Zach Hyman scored for the Maple Leafs, who had won three straight.